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Scott Walker and his anti-train attitude

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[quote user="Mr. Railman"] I was *** when Wisconsin governor Scott Walker stopped the extension of the Hiawatha, but this article really draws the line!  <a href="http://trn.trains.com/Railroad%20News/News%20Wire/2011/02/Wisconsin%20Republicans%20plan%20shutdown%20of%20Milwaukee%20commuter%20rail%20plan.aspx">http://trn.trains.com/Railroad%20News/News%20Wire/2011/02/Wisconsin%20Republicans%20pla</a> <a href="http://trn.trains.com/Railroad%20News/News%20Wire/2011/02/Wisconsin%20Republicans%20plan%20shutdown%20of%20Milwaukee%20commuter%20rail%20plan.aspx">n%20shutdown%20of%20Milwaukee%20commuter%20rail%20plan.aspx</a>  Due to this response by republicans, it would be smart for a non-government railroad company, like WSOR to take on the responsibilities of a Commuter Railroad like Metra.  I know which political party is going to win next election in Wisconsin [/quote]  The article does not show a detailed analysis of the reasons for rejecting the proposed Milwaukee commuter rail project.  Perhaps it is the future costs that would be hung around the necks of the taxpayers.  Perhaps the opponents took a look at the financials associated with Austin's new commuter rail line and were shocked by the numbers.   The capital costs to upgrade Capital Metro's Austin & Western Railroad line from Leander to Austin, the route the commuter rail trains run on, was $105 million or approximately $3.3 million per mile.  Or was it $140 million, as claimed by some, because of questionable accounting?  In any case, it was a large amount of money. Assuming the $105 million number is the better of the two numbers, it along with interest will bring the total estimated capital cost to approximately $236 million.  In addition, there is the annual operating cost of approximately $9.5 million. In January Capital Metro increased the frequency of the Red Line commuter trains.  They now operate throughout the day and even have a few special runs on Friday nights and Saturdays.  As a result, average ridership increased from approximately 450 passengers per day to 596 (19.8% of capacity).  The average daily taxpayer provided subsidy per passenger will be approximately $111.36 or $3.48 per passenger mile.  It did not change much because 2011 operating costs are projected to increase by approximately 44 per cent.  What a deal!  If Austin's commuter rail line was a business, the owners would shut it down and sell the assets for their salvage value.  Rail is not always the best solution for commuters.  In many instances, especially for smaller cities, Rapid Bus Technology probably is a better way to go.  It is much cheaper.  The estimated cost to build a 20 mile RBT route in Austin is roughly $3.5 million.  RBT would have been a more cost effective solution for Austin.  Like it or not those of us who like trains should make sure it is a good solution to the transport problem being addressed.  And we need to keep in mind that governments at all levels in the U.S. are facing serious fiscal problems.
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